PERSONAL INJURY
SCOOTER ACCIDENTS
With year-round great weather, it’s no surprise that so many people in Florida choose to get around by not only car but also motorcycle, electric scooter, and motorized scooter. Many people, including tourists, even turn to scooter rentals like Lime for convenience. While a scooter can be a fun and affordable way to get around the city, there are many dangers to scooters and accidents are on the rise.
If you have been injured in a scooter accident and believe another driver or even the scooter manufacturer or rental company could be to blame, it’s important to contact an experienced scooter accident injury attorney to explore your legal rights.
fort lauderdale
electric scooter rules
Electric scooters are fairly new and appearing in cities across the United States. Fort Lauderdale is one of just a handful of cities to establish rules for riders and require permits for companies like Bolt, Bird, and Lime that distribute scooters in the city.
Under Fort Lauderdale’s rules, scooter riders are required to obey traffic laws, including yielding to pedestrians, leaving at least four feet of space on the sidewalk when parking the scooter, and avoiding blocking business entrances, wheelchair ramps, and fire hydrants.
the dangers of electric
and motor scooters
Both motorized and electric scooters can pose a number of risks to riders as well as pedestrians. Some of the biggest dangers of scooters include:
- Inexperience: Scooter operators don’t need training, but inexperienced riders can place everyone at risk.
- School busses
- Quiet operation: Electric scooters are fairly quiet and pedestrians on the sidewalk may not hear them coming. Motor scooters are louder, but they can still be too quiet for other drivers to hear approaching.
- Speed: Scooters can reach up to 20 miles per hour. Because they are deceptively fast and electric scooter riders may be navigating busy sidewalks, it’s not uncommon for collisions to occur.
- Visibility: Motor scooters operated on the road have the same problem as motorcycles: they can be very difficult for drivers to see and they can hide in a vehicle’s blind spot.
- No protection: Like motorcycles, scooters offer little protection to riders in the event of an accident.
TYPES OF SCOOTER ACCIDENTS AND LIABILITY
Liability in a scooter accident in Florida can be complicated by many factors, including the fact that motorized scooters and electric scooters are not “motor vehicles” under the law and many parties may be to blame for an accident.
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PEDESTRIAN SCOOTER ACCIDENTS
Many scooter accidents involve a scooter striking a pedestrian. These accidents are only likely to become more common due to the rise of e-scooter rentals in cities like Fort Lauderdale. Accidents may be caused by scooter riders who are traveling too fast on a sidewalk or distracted, but pedestrians may also be to blame. -
FAULTY SCOOTER ACCIDENTS
Sometimes accidents are caused by faulty scooter parts or poor scooter design. In fact, Lime, an e-scooter rental company, recently recalled some of its scooters due to a risk of the scooters falling apart due to the normal wear and tear of use. In some cases, an accident may be caused by the manufacturer or rental company. -
VEHICLE SCOOTER COLLISIONS
Scooter accidents can sometimes involve motor vehicles on the road, especially in the case of motor scooters or mopeds. These accidents are often very serious as scooter riders have minimal protection in an accident. The scooter rider and/or the driver may share liability in an accident.
CONTACT A FLORIDA SCOOTER ACCIDENT INJURY LAWYER
If you or someone you love has been seriously hurt in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, GMV Law Group, LLP will aggressively represent you and fight for your best interests while investigating your accident, building your case, and negotiating with the insurance company. Contact GMV Law Group, LLP today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced auto accident lawyer in Florida to explore your legal options. We have English and Spanish speaking representatives ready to help you.
